Defence Research and Development Organization
(DRDO), the R&D arm of the defence ministry,
in partnership with industry chamber Ficci
has initiated a technology assessment and
commercialization (ATAC) programme for assessment
of DRDO-developed technologies for commercial
markets.
Ficci has been successfully running the
technology commercialization programme under
India Innovation Growth Programme. The Institute
of Texas University at Austin provides technical
help to FICCI in assessment of technologies
through its patented process that enabled
NASA to successfully commercialize its technologies
for commercial markets.
The DRDO-Ficci programme aims to create
a commercial pathway to deliver DRDO-developed
technologies for use in civilian products
and services.
In the first year of the programme, 26
DRDO labs across India have participated
and over 200 technologies are being assessed.
The technologies being assessed are from
sectors as diverse as electronics, robotics,
advanced computing and simulation, avionics,
optronics, precision engineering, engineering
systems, instrumentation, acoustic technologies,
life sciences, disaster management technologies
and information systems.